Cooperative Learning

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Cooperative Learning

• EDUC 4454
• P/J Methods

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Cooperative Learning

• A NEW WAY OF LEARNING TOGETHER

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• What is Cooperative Learning?
• An approach to organizing classroom activity so
  that students can interact with and learn from
  one another as well as from the teacher and the
  world around them.
• It is not simply group work.

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• CO-OPERATIVE LEARNING IMPROVES
• academic learning
• personal and social development
• race and ethno-cultural relations
• equality of educational outcome

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• Six Key Concepts that Need to be Considered
• Teams
• Will
• Management
• Skills
• Basic Principles (PIES)
• Co-op Strategies

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• PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATVE LEARNING
• Positive Interdependence
• Individual Accountability
• Equal Participation
• Simultaneous Interaction

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• GETTING STARTED
• Provide rationale and reassurance
• Start with simple tasks
• Keep groups small
• Gradually incorporate cooperative learning
  activities into your lessons
• Carefully structure your groups
• Build in reflection time right from the start

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Teachers Role in Cooperative Learning

• Organize the subject matter
• Organize the groupings
• Explain the task
• Teach social skills
• Design the assessment
• Observer checking for on-task behavior, time on
  task, checking for understanding

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WAYS OF ORGANIZING SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE
CLASSROOM

• Round Robin
• Each student gets a chance to share

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WAYS OF ORGANIZING SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE
CLASSROOM

• Think-Pair-Share
• Student thinks about a topic/problem posed by the
  teacher
• Pair up with another student to discuss it
• They then share their thoughts with the class

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WAYS OF ORGANIZING SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE
CLASSROOM

• Think-Pair-Square
• Problem posed
• Think time
• Pair work
• Square work They then share their thoughts with
  their group

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WAYS OF ORGANIZING SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE
CLASSROOM

• Numbered Heads Together
• Students number off
• Teacher asks a question
• Students in a small groups consult to make sure
  everyone knows the answer
• Then a student is called upon to answer
  (Tutoring)

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WAYS OF ORGANIZING SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE
CLASSROOM

• Team-Pair-Solo
• Students solve problems first as a team, then
  with a partner and finally alone

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• Runner Problem
• Group Time for side street 5 min.
• Partner Time for side street 10 min.
• Solo Time for side street 7 min.

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WAYS OF ORGANIZING SOCIAL INTERACTION IN THE
CLASSROOM

• Rotating Review
• Write on Topic
• Rotate to another topic
• Read and Discuss
• Add new ideas or questions

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• Check out the Ontario Curriculum Planner for more
  cooperative learning strategies.
• 1. Go to Library
• 2. Go to Browse Teacher Companions.
• 3. Under Teaching/Learning Strategies, click on
  
• Strategies
• 4. Click on Strategies Chart
• There are 15 Cooperative Learning Strategies.
  Consider how you might use them in your
  classroom.